Tempo is a 24/7 cafe best known for mighty omelets served in silver skillets on wooden trivets. The eggs are the top stratum in the skillet; below them is a thick layer of crunchy, crusty potato disks worthy of a good steak house. On the side comes a plate of Greek toast; and to dress it, you get a globe of sweet butter and a ramekin of house-made, fine-cut marmalade.

100% Approval Rating (8 votes)

Scorecard

Highlighted Reviews

"On an unlikely corner of Chicago’s Gold Coast, just blocks from the swankiest shops and hotels in town, Tempo Café is a 24/7/365 coffee shop that serves working class food at affordable prices. Cops especially seem to make camp in the capacious booths, to which ..."
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Gabrielle Lynch

December 21, 2006

"I just visited Chicago for the first time and was recommended Tempo Cafe by the doorman at my condo. Very glad he did.
By the time I walked to the restaurant there was a small crowd outside. Inside was full and there were about 20 people waiting for tables. While ..."
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"Breakfast at Tempo Cafe begins with a little dish that holds a single pitted prune and a wedge of orange."
Michael Stern

"There's something especially appealing about receiving one's whole meal (other than toast) in a single hot skillet. You can't see all the potatoes down below, but once I started forking into the eggs, the yolks seeped into the spuds and made some grand forkfuls. It wasn't a pretty picture, but it sure did taste fine."
Michael Stern

"The perfect way to start your breakfast at Tempo Cafe is with a Casablanca, a delicious combination of cantaloupe, strawberry, and orange juice."
Cliff Strutz

"My personal favorite of Tempo Cafe's long list of available skillet omelets is the Florentine, with spinach, ham, and Swiss cheese. Along with a hefty portion of home fries, this meal will fuel you for the whole day."
Cliff Strutz

"The Michigan omelet: diced apples and cheddar cheese, served in a skillet atop a thick layer of crusty fried potatoes."
Michael Stern

"With every breakfast you get a globe of butter and a dish of fine-cut marmalade."
Michael Stern

"Because it's open twenty-four hours a day, Tempo Cafe is a favorite place for cops to gather for early morning breakfast or end-of-shift coffee."
Michael Stern

"Tempo Cafe's patio gives you a good view of the comings and goings on Chestnut Street. This picture was taken just at dawn. By later in the breakfast hour, you'll wait for a table."
Michael Stern

"A short walk from the high-tone hotels and shopping emporia of Michigan Avenue, Tempo Cafe is a low-cost, high-quality urban eatery."
Michael Stern